Ok, My three biggest interests have got to be computers, music and politics. Now when all three cross paths in a story like this I just can’t keep quiet.

I assume most if not all of my readers have at one point and time used AOL Instant Messenger to communicate with friends. WELL, AOL has just posted new “Terms Of Service” for AIM, that includes the rights for AOL to use anything and everything you send through AIM in any way they want - without informing you. Here is an excerpt: “…by posting Content on an AIM Product, you grant AOL, its parent, affiliates, subsidiaries, assigns, agents and licensees the irrevocable, perpetual, worldwide right to reproduce, display, perform, distribute, adapt and promote this Content in any medium. You waive any right to privacy.”

This would mean if I’m working on lyrics or music to a song, and I message my guitarist about it and we talk back and forth eventually coming out with a song for our band, then AOL has full rights to that material. I for one am going to be protesting this greatly. Please post your opinions-

-b